Butler VA 2023 Volunteer of the Year

Congratulations to Butler VA and United Veterans Services Volunteer, U.S. Navy Veteran Chuck Jennings! Chuck was selected as the 2023 Hospital Volunteer of the Year by the American Legion.

Chuck volunteers in the Audiology Clinic at Butler VA, although he is always ready to help in any capacity. With over 13,000 hours of Volunteer Service since 2004, Chuck is a model Volunteer and provides exemplary Red Coat Ambassador services. He helps train new Volunteers and offers encouragement to younger folks as they navigate the system. The Veteran History Project is one of his favorite projects to work on with his fellow Veterans. He has completed 153 stories that have been submitted to the Library of Congress. For additional information regarding Butler VA’s Veterans History Project and to volunteer with Chuck at Butler VA, visit: https://www.va.gov/butler-health-care/work-with-us/volunteer-or-donate/

UVS salutes Chuck and offers our sincere appreciation for providing excellent service to America’s Veterans.

UVS Volunteer of 22 years Honored

Leo Plante is a UVS volunteer at the Palo Alto VA Health Care System. His volunteer assignment is to clean and maintain all of the fish tanks at the Palo Alto HSC facilities.   He was honored on 5/9/24 for 22 years and over 23,000 hours of dedicated service.   

UVS Donation for Veterans Free Farmer's Market

UVS VAVS Representative Joe Dooley presenting a check for $1,000 to Manchester VA Voluntary Service Chief Stella Lareau on April 24, 2024. The donation will be used to support the summer Veterans Free Farmers Markets and the Labor Day Lobster Roll luncheon for Veterans cared for on Manchesters Community Living Center.

VAVS EC Meeting

Members of the VAVS EC held a two day meeting last week at VFW Headquarters in Washington DC.  United Veterans Services National Representative Joe Dooley has the privilege of serving as Chairperson of the committee for 2023-24.  Representatives from 18 of the 20 Veterans Service Organizations were in attendance for the meeting in which recommendations to enhance VA health care delivery were addressed.

In the second photo VAVS Center for Development and Civic Engagement Director Sabrina Clark shares a moment with UVS National Representative Joe Dooley during the meeting.

UVS Sponsors Veterans Free Farmers Market

The Veterans Free Farmers Market was held last week at the Manchester, NH VAMC. UVS served as the main sponsor of this event designed to assist Veterans with food insecurity concerns.  Over 250 Veterans received bags of fresh produce at no cost to them.  Special thanks to Parlee Farms in Tyngsborough, MA for filling up our SUV with over $1,000 with of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Golf for Veterans

Another day of golf for veterans.  A huge thank you to Frank Schleifer for coordinating this UVS golf tournament since 1993. 

Manchester NH VAMC Memorial Day Program

UVS volunteer Joe Dooley served as an usher for the Manchester NH VAMC Memorial Day Program. Over 1,000 people attended the ceremony which honored the memory of 175 Veterans affiliated with Manchester VA who passed away in the last twelve months.

UVS volunteers Joe Dooley and Linda Gaetano acknowledged US Senator Maggie Hassan for her efforts presenting each and every family member of a Veteran who passed last year with a rose, Memorial programme and her condolences as part of the ceremony (photo below).

2023 Veterans Golf Tournaments

United Veterans Services and the Northern California Golf Association kicked off the 2023 Veterans Golf Tournaments at the Golf Club at Moffett Field.   Many thanks to all the volunteers who made this a special day for veterans. 

VAVS National Advisory Committee Meeting Leadership Panel

United Veterans Service VA Voluntary Service National Representative Joe Dooley facilitated an executive leadership panel at the 77th annual VAVS National Advisory Committee Meeting in Denver, CO on April 28, 2023.  Pictured with Mr Dooley are Dr. Virginia Creasman, Director Ann Arbor VA Hospital, Dr Leigh Anderson, Chief Medical Officer, VISN 19, Mr Mike Gilman, Director, Denver VA Hospital and Mr Mike Murdock, Director Dayton VA Hospital.  The panel discussed opportunities to enhance the overall Voluntary Service program throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs.

UVS Donates to the VAVS Parke Scholarship

UVS made a donation to the VAVS Parke scholarship at the Parke luncheon, held at the 77th VA Voluntary Service National Advisory Committee Meeting.  Over $18,000 in student volunteer scholarships were raised at the luncheon.  Pictured are UVS National VAVS Representative Joe Dooley and Parke Scholarship Board Member JP Brown accepting the UVS donation.

In Memoriam: Paul Noa

United Veterans Services lost a dear friend this week. Paul Noa supervised the logistics at the Hillsborough Antiques Show for about 40 years. We will miss him very much. He is pictured with George Frye, a member of the UVS Board of Directors.

Veterans Free Farmers Market

Photos from the Manchester VA Hospital Veterans Free Farmers Market held on Thursday September 15, 2022 at the VA Hospital. United Veterans Sevices donated $1,000 to the VA Hospital supporting the Veterans Free Farmers Market, VA patients Labor Day Lobster Roll luncheon and Veterans Transportation Network.

Manchester VA Voluntary Service Chief Stella Lareau and United Veterans Services volunteer Linda Gaetano Dooley sorting bushels of native corn for the Farmers Market.

Volunteers Madeline Dreusicke and Linda Gaetano help to package donations of fresh local produce for the farmers market

United Veterans Services VAVS National Representative Joe Dooley prepping some native corn for distribution at the farmers market

UVS Rep Receives Certificate for Volunteering 1000 Hours

Manchester, NH VAMC Director Kevin Forrest presented United Veterans Service VAVS Representative Joe Dooley with a Certificate acknowledging 1,000 hours of volunteer service to Veterans cared for at the Manchester VA hospital on August 20. Joe says “the day I volunteer at the VA is usually the best day of my week”.